Losok Valkyr Rifle

ABSTRACT

The current invention is a semi-automatic rifle, of the detachable magazine fed, air cooled, gas driven type. The rifle uses some parts from The M1 Garand Rifle U.S. Pat. No. 1,892,141, but differs in method of feeding, bolt operation, barrel design, receiver design, sight systems, and gas system design, therefore requiring a new patent application. The rifle solves shortcomings of the M1 rifle by the upgrading of the listed functions to enhance the rifle&#39;s use for the modern shooter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The US Rifle M1 or M1 Garand Rifle was the main battle rifle of the USfrom 1936 to 1957. The rifle while advanced for the time was lacking insome areas that are now addressed by the invention in this application.The gas operating system employed on the M1 utilized an operating rodnearly as long as the barrel and gas cylinder that mounted very close tothe barrel, for the rifle to work, the rod had to be bent in a manner toclear the stock. The bends in the rod and its length made it a fragilesystem not able to withstand pressures used in more modern ammunition orhigher pressure calibers. The gas system also could not be adjusted tofacilitate use of other ammunition, or to adjust to varying climates ofuse or to tune the rifle for better accuracy or reliability. The M1rifle also fed from 8 round en bloc clips fed from the top of the rifle,requiring optics to be mounted on the side, and limiting magazinecapacity to 8 rounds. The rifle also used an indirect bolt stopmechanism that acted on the operation rod, not the bolt itself. Thedesign of the stock on the M1 rifle used two hand guards to cover thebarrel and operating rod nearly to the muzzle, limiting barrel diameter,and preventing a free floating barrel/gas system. Rifles of similardesign have usually suffered from similar limitations or multi movingpart gas systems. Others have also been limited to short action riflerounds of limited power and versatility. What is needed is a riflecomparable in simplicity to the M1 rifle with all its good qualities andrugged reliability when used as designed, but able to handle higherpressure loads, long action calibers, modern optics, and free floatbarrel groups for enhanced accuracy, while having available multiplebarrel lengths and configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention while similar to the M1 rifle differs enough torequire a new patent application. The new invention utilizes a short,straight operating rod with piston attached directly to the rod, thistype of system has fewer moving parts than other short stroke systems,and uses a gas cylinder with adjustable gas plug that is mounted andlocated on the bottom of the barrel by a simple pin and shoulderarrangement rather than a complicated spline cut set up. The gas feedsfrom the barrel to the cylinder via port drilled in the bottom of thebarrel. The simple arrangement allows barrels and op-rods to be made tocustom lengths and configurations as needed for various calibers andspecialty users. The M1 rifle used an open top receiver design thatloaded from the top, the new rifle is a closed top design that mountsoptics on the integral rails at 12 and 9 clock positions (when viewedfrom the rear), and with detachable box magazine feeding from the bottomof the rifle. The receiver also mounts the bolt stop which is activatedby the magazine follower upon firing the last round and released by abutton on the exterior of the receiver, as opposed to the M1 rifle whereit acted on the operating rod. The stock group of the current inventioncombined with the trigger group and receiver with integral magazine wellserve to provide a free floating barrel and gas system for improvedaccuracy and reliability and forward optics mounting by the heightadjustable hand guard with optics rail. The operation of the action ofthe current invention is also enhanced by the closely fitted operatingrod guide and spring of a new design as compared to the M1 rifle whichcoupled with the straight operating rod provides smoother more accurateoperation in all climates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Receiver Left side View

FIG. 2. Receiver Right Side View

FIG. 3. Receiver top View

FIG. 4. Receiver bottom view

FIG. 5. Bolt Group Top View

FIG. 5A Bolt Group Side View

FIG. 6. Barrel Group/Gas System Assembled on Test mounting receiver

FIG. 6A Gas Cylinder

FIG. 6B Operating Rod

FIG. 6C Operating Rod Spring Guide

FIG. 7. Stock Group/Hand guard

FIG. 8. Trigger Housing Group Side View

FIG. 8A Trigger Housing Group Bottom view

FIG. 9. Magazine group

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an improved Semi-Automatic Rifle with consisting of aReceiver group, Barrel Group, Bolt Group, Stock Group, Trigger Group,and Magazine Group. The Invention is designed to eliminate many of theissues that have been found in rifles like the US M1 Rifle, U.S. Pat.No. 1,892,141 and similar rifles such as weak gas systems, limitationspressure and caliber, limitations on barrel diameter and length, poorfeeding designs, no adjustable gas system, poor optics mounting systems,week stock mounting points with lack of return to zero uponre-installation in the stock. The current invention addresses thesethrough multiple simple changes and additions to the basic art of thesemi-automatic rifle in a unique combination of parts in one rifle.

The part depicted in FIG. 1-4 is the receiver in the strippedconfiguration with no parts such as the bolt stop in place so to showthe full extent of its design from four angles. The part is to be madeof steel or other suitable material, by casting, forging, other methods.Proper heat treatment and surface preparation will be needed to ensureproper operation and enhance the toughness of the part.

The part in FIGS. 5 and 5A is the bolt group, this one of standard US M1rifle size and origin while other sizes and configuration are to beavailable this is to be the most common size and configuration. The partto be made of steel or other material, and produced by casting forging,or the method with properties required to be similar to 8620 steelhardened to 55-59HRC to insure toughness and long wear.

The parts in FIGS. 6 through 6C. Comprise the barrel group and gassystem. It is shown in only one configuration of the many that arepossible. Illustrated is the short operating rod, and the gas cylinder,and in line nature of the system. Also pictured is the new operating rodguide. The parts are preferably made of ordnance grade steel but othermaterials can be used if treated properly and of suitable strength andwear characteristics. The parts to be made by any normal method such asmilling, casting, forging or the like.

FIG. 7 Shows the stock group of the rifle in a standard rifleconfiguration with traditional stock, as well as the new hand guard anda short optics rail at 12 clock position. This part is made of anysuitable material by an appropriate method for a gun stock. The handguard is to be made of aluminum, properly treated or other suitablematerial for holding the threads required for its designed attachment tothe stock.

FIG. 8 is the trigger group shown in standard configuration. The part tobe made from steel or other suitable material. The part houses theinternals of a standard M1 rifle trigger housing, plus a magazinerelease system, and guide arms to ease entry of the magazine to thewell. The guide arms also serve to help lock the rifle into the stock,and locate the receiver by aligning with the magazine well of thereceiver. The trigger guard is used to lock the trigger group to thereceiver at the magazine well, and there by lock the rifle into thestock. The part to be milled, cast, forged or by other accepted methods.The heat treat of the material will key to extending its life and givingsuitable performance.

FIG. 9 is the Magazine group, shown made from steel with internal partsalso of steel, this part could also be made of aluminum, composites, orthe other metals. The part to be stamped and welded or formed by othermethods depending on material used. The part to be available invariations for various calibers and capacities.

The end user of the invention will see enhanced reliability, accuracy,versatility and longer life of this invention compared with currentsemi-automatic rifles available. While the listed configurations of theinvention are the preferred embodiment at this time, those skilled inthe art will see that minor changes to the methods, materials, or designwill not depart from the invention, and therefore it is aimed to coverall such changes which fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. The rifle consists of multiple parts groups that work and functiontogether to allow the operation of the rifle as a whole. The receivergroup consists of the receiver housing which is the receiver, and itssmall parts such as bolt stops, and various pins to mount other groupsto the receiver which is the heart of the rifle. The bolt group,consists of the bolt, its internal parts the firing pin, firing pinspring, ejector and spring, and the extractor and spring. The barrelgroup consists of the barrel and the gas system parts, the gas cylinder,operating rod, rod guide and spring and gas piston the barrel may alsoattach a muzzle device. The stock group consists of the stock, withfixed or adjustable butt stocks, and the hand guard which mounts to thestock with no contact on the barrel. The trigger group consists of thetrigger housing and its internal parts which include the trigger, sear,safety, associated pins and the hammer, along with a trigger guard. Themagazine group is the magazine housing, the follower, the spring and thefloorplate.
 2. The receiver listed in claim one 1 above to consist of amachined, cast, forged or other method of manufacture part of steelaluminum, polymer or other material part heat treated and finished byappropriate means. The part is designed to house a bolt group also usedin the US M1 Rifle or of identical specification dimensions part or oneof similar design of varying size. Part shall mount a barrel via anynormal means such as threading, pinning or pressing. The part shallattach the rifle to the stock by working with the trigger group andother means as needed. The receiver to accept optical sight attachmentat various points on the top and side of the receiver. The receiver toincorporate bolt stop activated by the magazine and mounted on thereceiver its self and acting on the bolt. The receiver will also mountthe points of the attachment for the operating rod, operating rod springguide and trigger housing. The magazine well to be an integral part ofthe receiver not a separate part, and to also act as a recoil lug andlocation point for the receiver in the stock. The receiver can be madein various sized versions to accommodate larger or smaller cartridges.3. The bolt group of claim one above can be either a USGI M1 Garand boltand its component parts such as the firing pin and spring, extractor andspring, and ejector and spring, or a new manufacture part of the samedesign and dimensions for standard cartridges or of various sizedversions with parts of the similar design to the USGI part for othersize cartridges. The part to be cast, forged, machined or otherwisemanufactured of appropriate materials heat treated or otherwise finishedfor suitable performance. The bolt to attach to the operating rod andgas system in the same manner as the M1 rifle, but to engage a bolt stopin the receiver housing itself, not like the M1 rifle.
 4. The BarrelGroup of claim 1 Above to consist of the barrel and gas system. Thebarrel to be made of steel or other material by any accepted means withrifling grooves cut by any industry accepted means to give acceptableperformance. The barrel will be threaded and have a breech of the samedesign as the M1 rifle, but will differ in the method of stabilizationand attachment to the stock and will not attach to the hand guard in anyway. The barrel may mount a muzzle device as needed by a variety ofmeans. The gas system to be mounted to the barrel by means of a pin andshoulder system with no spline cuts or other means as used in the M1Rifle, and with much lower mounting level to facilitate the use of astraight operating rod. The operating rod and gas piston assembly to beof a much shorter and now straight type as opposed to the M1 type. Thedesign of the this system to achieve a much improved capacity to handlehigher pressures experienced by larger cartridges slower burningpowders. The design of the system also eliminates the need to bend eachrod in a very complex manner, and allows the use of shorter barrels. Thelength of the operating rod can be varied easily to accommodate anylength desired or required to attain optimal operation with virtuallyany rifle configuration or caliber. The system to feature a gas plugthat will allow the adjustable flow of gas back to the piston on theoperating rod tip, to slow down or speed up the operation of the actionof the rifle to obtain the best accuracy and reliability dependent onthe caliber and conditions the rifle is to used in. The operating rodguide to be a of a straight type mounting to the receiver group andsized to fit the rod and spring to ensure the smooth straight flow ofthe operating rod and spring in all conditions. All parts of the gassystem to be manufactured of steel or other suitable material bymachining, forging, turning, casting and heat treated as need to enhanceperformance.
 5. The stock group of claim one above to consist of a stockand hand guard system with either a conventional configuration buttstock or an collapsible version with an attached pistol grip. The stockcan be made of any material, but shall have the following uniquefeatures. The stock to be designed to work with the magazine well designof the receiver in group one to locate the rifle in the stock by meansof multiple surfaces on the magazine well acting as recoil lugs and themagazine well also functioning as a square pillar to locate the receiverand attached parts in the same position upon removal and reinsertion inthe stock. The hand guard to mount to the stock only with no contact onthe barrel in any position, the hand guard to feature adjustment inheight to accommodate varying barrel diameters, and optic heights. Thehand guard to mount an optical rail to facilitate the mounting of opticsas needed at the 12, 3, and 9 clock positions. The stock and hand guardcan be made to varying sizes to accommodate up or downsized rifles asneeded.
 6. The trigger group of claim 1 above to consist of a uniquehousing to locate internal parts of US M1 Rifle trigger group so thatthey will function in the rifle as originally designed, but also tosecure the new rifle and magazine group in the newly designed stock. Thehousing to differ from the M1 Rifle in that the magazine release andother parts needed to function with a detachable box magazine have beendesigned in. The magazine release to be a spring driven part to engagethe magazine and lock it in place with a convenient tab to release whenneeded. The new housing to be in contact with the magazine well alongboth sides. The housing to be made by machining, casting, forging, orother means from steel or other suitable material finished and heattreated as needed.
 7. The Magazine group of claim 1 above to consist ofsteel or other suitable material box magazine sized to hold the desiredcartridges of the receiver being used. The magazine consisting of thehousing and its spring follower and floor plate. The magazine will fitthe magazine well and insert from the bottom as opposed to the en blocclip of the M1 rifle. The magazine can vary in capacity depending onuse. The magazine to work with the trigger housing and group by fittinginto position in the magazine well and stock and locking into place bymeans of a tab or similar protrusion or stop on the rear of the magazinethat engages the release on the trigger housing.